Artificial hand with violin bow adapter

ABSTRACT

An artificial hand with a cuff-like sleeve adapted to be attached to the stub of the forearm and having a forwardly extending strut and artificial hand and with the strut extending into the palm of the artificial hand. On the end of the strut and pivotable in the palm of the artificial hand is a clamp holder to which the violin bow is releaseably attached. Means are provided between the bow and adapted for attachment to the upper arm of the player for keeping the bow pivoted as the upper arm of the player is lifted and perpendicular and across the strings of the violin as the violin is being played. This means for pivoting the bow holder takes the form of a combined spring biasing the bow outwardly from the strut and a string connected between the bow and the upper arm of the player for maintaining the bow in parallelism with the upper arm of the player and also in the form of articulated links connected between the bow and the upper arm of the player and wherein the links pivotly connected together and held with this pivot connection located adjacent to the outer side of the elbow of the player&#39;&#39;s arm.

United States Patent Katz 1541 ARTIFICIAL HAND WITH VIOLIN BOW ADAPTER [72] Inventor: Edward A. Katz, 315 Avenue F, Brooklyn,

[22] Filed: Nov. 25, 1970 [21] Appl. No.1 92,712

2,561,523 7/1951 Lux ..3/l2.8X

FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS 339,797 8/1921 Germany ..3/12.8

[15] 3,656,187 [451 Apr. 18, 1972 Primary Examiner-Dalton L. Truluck Assistant Examiner-Ronald L. Frinks Attorney-Polachek & Saulsbury and William T. Hough [57] ABSTRACT An artificial hand with a cuff-like sleeve adapted to be attached to the stub of the forearm and having a forwardly extending strut and artificial hand and with the strut extending into the palm of the artificial hand. On the end of the strut and pivotable in the palm of the artificial hand is a clamp holder to which the violin bow is releaseably attached. Means are provided between the bow and adapted for attachment to the upper arm of the player for keeping the bow pivoted as the upper arm of the player is lifted and perpendicular and across the strings of the violin as the violin is being played. This means for pivoting the bow holder takes the form of a combined spring biasing the bow outwardly from the strut and a string connected between the bow and the upper arm of the player for maintaining the bow in parallelism with the upper arm of the player and also in the form of articulated links connected between the bow and the upper arm of the player and wherein the links pivotly connected together and held with this pivot connection located adjacent to the outer side of the elbow of the players arm.

6 Claims, 10 Drawing Figures PATENTEDAPRWIQH 3,656,187

cum 1 OF 2 INVENTOR. EDWARD A. KATZ A TTURNET Ci PATENTEDAPR 18 m2 SHEET 2 0F 2 INVENTOR.

EDWARD A. KATZ ATTURNEYS ARTIFICIAL HAND WITH VIOLIN BOW ADAPTER This invention relates to an artificial arm adapted for use in holding a violin bow.

It is an object of the present invention to provide an artificial arm with a violin bow holder and with means whereby the holder and the bow will be pivoted as player moves his upper arm and whereby the bow will be held perpendicularly to the strings of the violin as the bow is drawn thereacross.

Another object of the invention is to provide an artificial hand that will have a cuff which can permit the hand to be connected to the stub forearm of a player and from this cuff can be attached a holder for the violin bow that is attached in such a manner that it can be pivoted and with means connected between the upper arm of the player and the bow to pivot the bow and its holder upon the forwardly extending strut of the cuff.

It is still another object of the invention to provide simple means for the holding of the handle of a violin how that is in the form of a bifurcated sleeve having clamping projections and clamp fastening means extending between the projections to tighten the bifurcated sleeve about the handle of the bow and so that attachment or removal of the bow from the holder can be easily and readily affected.

It is a further object of the invention to provide in an artificial hand and adapted for pivotally holding the bow for a violin player wherein the holder will be hidden in the palm of an artificial hand and the means for pivoting the bow with the holder will be substantially hidden within the palm of the hand so that it will not readily appear that the player of the violin is without a natural hand.

Other objects of the invention are to provide an artificial hand with a pivoted holder for supporting a violin bow, having the above objects in mind which is of simple construction, has a minimum number of parts, easy to assemble, easy to attach to the forearm and in an effective manner, durable, light in weight, has a pleasing appearance, effective and efficient in use. For other objects and for a better understanding of the invention reference may be had to the following detailed construction, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an artificial hand and adapter for the use of a violin bow incorporated in the hand with string attachment connected between the bow, the adapter and the upper arm for controlling the angle of the bow as it is moved over the strings.

FIG. 2 is an enlarged perspective view looking upon the front of the adapter and toward the palm of the hand and illustrating more clearly the manner in which the bow is attached to the adapter.

FIG. 3 is a still further enlarged top plan view of the artificial hand adapter and of the violin bow connected to the adapter with illustration being made as to the manner in which the leaf spring maintains tension upon the cable serving to ad just the bow as the arm of the player is worked on the shoulder, the cable being connected to the upper arm.

FIG. 4 is an enlarged fragmentary and plan view looking upon the attachment of one end of the leaf spring to the bow and generally on line 4-4 of FIG. 3.

FIG. 5 is a fragmentary view of the spring and its connection to the bow and looking in elevation upon one side of the view shown in FIG. 4.

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of the artificial hand with adapter and of a violin player working the bow through the adapter to keep the bow at 90 across the strings as the bow is extended thereover to effect playing of the violin, this view having reference to the form of the invention utilizing a cable for maintaining the angle of the bow according to the first form of the invention.

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of the artificial hand utilizing a sleeve for connecting the hand to the arm and according to a modified form of the invention wherein the bow is maintained in its alignment with the violin strings by articulated links and with the forearm and upper arm being angled approximately 90 to one another.

FIG. 8 is a perspective view similar to FIG. 7 but where the forearm is angled more than away from the upper arm as when obtaining tone from the violin bow at the end of the bow and stroke.

FIG. 9 is an enlarged fragmentary perspective view of the adapter bow attaching sleeve and of the pivot connection to the forwardly extending member carried on the hand cuff.

FIG. 10 is an end elevational view of the adapter with an eccentric bow securing clamp released to allow the insertion or removal of the violin bow handle from the adapter.

Referring now particularly to FIGS. 1 to 6, 15 represents generally an artificial hand with the adapter for use with the violin bow 16 which is fitted into and carried in an open sleeve like holder member 17 that is pivotally connected on a pivot pin 18 to the forward end of a strut 19 that extends forwardly from a slightly tapered cuff 21 that may carry an artificial hand 12 that is fitted about the wrist and lower end of the forearm to hold the hand and the violin adapter upon the arm of the player. Fixed to the inner side edge of the strut 19 by a pin 22 is a bent leaf spring 23 having an elongated slot 24 which receives a pin 25 projecting inwardly from a ring 26 clamped and secured upon the bow 16. This spring will tend to keep the bow l6 swung outwardly on its pivot connection with the strut 19. It will be noted that the strut 19 conforms to the palm of the hand 12 by a bend or dip in the outer end of the strut as indicated generally at 27. The strut is secured to the inner side of the cuff or sleeve 21 as best seen in FIG. 2 by rivets 28 and 29.

In order to control the outward pivotal movement of the bow 16 a further ring clamp 31 is fixed to the bow at a location outwardly of the ring 26 and has attached to the same an eye 32, FIG. 3, to which a control cable 33 is secured. This cable 33 extends through another eye 34 fixed also to the inner edge of the strut adjacent to the outer end of the cuff 21 and through which the cable 33 extends. This cable 33 extends through an eye 35 carried on the upper arm by a belt strap 36, as best seen in FIG. 1, so that as the bow 16 is advanced over the violin strings, as illustrated in FIG. 6, and as the upper arm, as indicated at 37 is swung upwardly from the shoulder, the bow will be pivoted inwardly upon the pivot 18 of the strut 19 by the string 33 to maintain the bow always at right angles with the strings of the violin.

As best seen in FIGS. 2 and 3, the bow 16 has a handle 38 of generally rectangular shape to which the violin bow strands 39 are attached which are in turn attached to the outer end of the bow in a manner well known and this handle 38 has the usual knob tightener 41 extending from its rear end.

The holder 17 is bifurcated at its opposite ends as indicated at 42 and 43 and adapted to be open to receive the bow rod part and the handle block 38 and then be clamped by screws which are tightened between the bifurcated ends of the holder 17 and is best indicated at 44 and 45 respectively and which are in the form of screws threaded between the bifurcated ends. Once these screws 44 and 45 are tightened the bow 16 is held rigidly against turning about the axis of its rod.

Correct bowing for a good even toned note requires that the bow strands 39 be always held at right angles to the violin strings 46 of violin 47 parallel to bridge 48 and this is automatically maintained by the cable 33 connected as it is to the bow 16, the eye 34 on the forward strut l9 and by the belt 36 and eye 35 to the upper arm. This cable 33 is kept tight against the action of the leaf spring 23 acting between the bow and the strut 19 to tend to pivot the bow 18 outwardly and against the action of the cable 33. It should be apparent that as the arm is swung that the bow 16 is thus automatically kept at 90 and across the strings 46 of the violin 47. The cuff 21 and the hand 12 can be replaced with the violin holder from the arm and a new hand and cuff inserted by slipping the cuff on to the stub forearm. The artificial hand can be replaced by other type hands having other types of holders for effecting other types of work or a mere rigid or articulated hand member 12.

Referring now particularly to FIGS. 6 to 10, where the parts are the same or similar, the same numerals as used in connection with the first form of the invention will be used. The principal difierence of this second form of the invention is that the pivoting movement of the bow 16 is effected through articulated links connected to the handle end of the bow and rigidly along the outer side of the upper arm 37. This form of the invention includes a cuff or sleeve 21 from which there forwardly extends the strut 19 which is bent inwardly so that its outer end can lie more or less in the palm of the artificial hand 12. The bow is carried in a bifurcated holder sleeve 17 of slightly different construction than the holder sleeve 17 of the first form of the invention in that upwardly extending and opposing pairs of clamp projections 42 and 43' extend with the bifurcated sleeve 17 forwardly from the palm of the artificial hand 22 and with the bow handle 38 inserted therein, these projections 42 and 43 are closed upon one another to clamp the bow handle 38 in place by the tightening of eccentric interconnecting members 51 and 52 respectively, which are respectively headed at 53 and which have a swing arm 54 pivotally connected to the members 51 at 55 and having a cam or eccentric shaped surface 56, FIG. that will tighten the clamp projections together when the eccentric clamping member 54 is swung downwardly to the positions that are shown in FIG. 9. By lifting upwardly on the eccentric crank handle 54 to a position in axial alignment with the connecting member 51 and as shown in FIG. 10, the bow handle 38 will be released from the bifurcated holder sleeve 17.

Adapted to be fitted upon the knob 41 of the bow handle is an adapter sleeve 56 which has connected to its outer end by a pivot pin 57, a link 58 of a length approximating the effective length of the players forearm 59 and this link 58 extends rearwardly to a pivot connection 61 aligned with the effective center of the elbow between the forearm 59 and the upper arm 37 and with a link member 62 that extends upwardly along the outer side of the upper arm and is held thereagainst by straps 63 and 64, the strap 64 lying above the strap 63 and considerably spaced therefrom. This link 62 is thereby maintained against movement so that as the bow 16 is used on the violin the pivot point 61 remains more or less fixed and as the forearm 59 is brought upwardly so that the bow passes across the strings 46 of the violin 47, the how will be automatically pivoted and kept at right angles as it is pulled across the strings 46 of the violin 47. This movement thereby simulates the pivoting action of the human wrist when the bow is used by a natural hand.

What is claimed is:

1. An artificial hand with an adapter for use in holding a violin bow comprising a cuff adapted to be fitted upon a stub forearm, a strut extending forwardly from the cuff, a violin bow holder clamp pivotally connected to said strut to prevent pivotal movement of the bow when attached to the holder, and means for connecting to the bow and adapted to be connected to the upper arm of the player to cause pivotal move ment of the bow with movement of the upper arm of the player so as to maintain the bow at right angles across the strings of a violin normally held in playing position under the chin of the player.

2. An artificial hand with an adapter for use in holding a violin bow, as defined in claim 1, and an artificial hand member extending outwardly from the cuff and said strut extending into and lying within the palm of the artificial hand, said strut being connected to the inner face of the cuff and being bent downwardly and inwardly to lie close to the palm of the hand, said bow holder being pivoted to the strut and lying within the palm of the hand.

3. An artificial hand with an adapter for use in holding a violin bow, as defined in claim 1, and said holder being in the form of a sleeve clamp adapted to receive the handle of the bow, being bifurcated with projections extending outwardly from the bifurcations, and clamping elements extending between the projections to tighten the projections toward one another and about the bow handle.

4. An artificial hand with an adapter for use in holding a violin bow, as defined in claim 1, and said means for moving the bow with movement of the upper arm comprising a spring extending outwardly from the forward cuff strut and adapted to be connected to the bow, a cable having means for connecting to the bow, and means adapted to connect the cable by way of said strut to the upper arm of the player so that the bow is worked against the action of the spring to pivot the bow and maintain the same in parallelism with the movement of the upper arm.

5. An artificial hand with an adapter for use in holding a violin bow, as defined in claim 4, and said spring being in the form of a leaf spring fixed at one end to the cuff strut and its other end having an elongated slot, the said bow having a pin adapted to extend forwardly through the elongated slot to hold the spring against displacement from the bow while permitting movement of the spring along the bow and said strut having an eye projection thereon, and said cable adapted to be connected between the bow and the upper arm of the player extending through the eye on the cuff strut.

6. An artificial hand with an adapter for use in holding a violin bow, as defined in claim 1, and which said means for pivoting the bow and the holder comprises an articulated link having means at one end for pivotally connecting with the handle end of the bow and a further link having a pivot connection containing the opposite end of the articulated link, and strap means secured to the further link and adapted to be extended about the upper arm of the player, said links intended to maintain the bow in parallelism with the further link and the upper arm of the player and directly and perpendicularly across the strings of the violin. 

1. An artificial hand with an adapter for use in holding a violin bow comprising a cuff adapted to be fitted upon a stub forearm, a strut extending forwardly from the cuff, a violin bow holder clamp pivotally connected to said strut to prevent pivotal movement of the bow when attached to the holder, and means for connecting to the bow and adapted to be connected to the upper arm of the player to cause pivotal movement of the bow with movement of the upper arm of the player so as to maintain the bow at right angles across the strings of a violin normally held in playing position under the chin of the player.
 2. An artificial hand with an adapter for use in holding a violin bow, as defined in claim 1, and an artificial hand member extending outwardly from the cuff and said strut extending into and lying within the palm of the artificial hand, said strut being connected to the inner face of the cuff and being bent downwardly and inwardly to lie close to the palm of the hand, said bow holder being pivoted to the strut and lying within the palm of the hand.
 3. An artificial hand with an adapter for use in holding a violin bow, as defined in claim 1, and said holder being in the form of a sleeve clamp adapted to receive the handle of the bow, being bifurcated with projections extending outwardly from the bifurcations, and clamping elements extending between the projections to tighten the projections toward one another and about the bow handle.
 4. An artificial hand with an adapter for use in holding a violin bow, as defined in claim 1, and said means for moving the bow with movement of the upper arm comprising a spring extending outwardly from the forward cuff strut and adapted to be connected to the bow, a cable having means for connecting to the bow, and means adapted to connect the cable by way of said strut to the upper arm of the player so that the bow is worked against the action of the spring to pivot the bow and maintain the same in parallelism with the movement of the upper arm.
 5. An artificial hand with an adapter for use in holding a violin bow, as defined in claim 4, and said spring being in the form of a leaf spring fixed at one end to the cuff strut and its other end having an elongated slot, the said bow having a pin adapted to extend forwardly through the elongated slot to hold the spring against displacement from the bow while permitting movement of the spring along the bow and said strut having an eye projection thereon, and said cable adapted to be connected between the bow and the upper arm of the player extending through the eye on the cuff strut.
 6. An artificial hand with an adapter for use in holding a violin bow, as defined in claim 1, and which said means for pivoting the bow and the holder comprises an articulated link having means at one end for pivotally connecting with the handle end of the bow and a further link having a pivot connection containing the opposite end of the articulated link, and strap means secured to the further link and adapted to be extended about the upper arm of the player, said links intended to maintain the bow in parallelism with the further link and the upper arm of the player and directly and perpendicularly across the strings of the violin. 